Slice of the pie for growers

By Greg Barber

Published 11:31 pm, Tuesday, August 14, 2012

In this Friday, Aug. 10, 2012 photo, ripening apples hang from a tree at Burtt's apple orchard in Cabot, Vt. Apple orchards in Northern New England dodged a bullet this spring when trees got an early start and then were hit with frost that decimated crops in big producing states like Michigan. The crop in Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire is expected to be smaller than last year's banner year but growers are optimistic about the season. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

ALBANY — On Tuesday, Republican Assemblymen Jim Tedisco, Pete Lopez and Steve McLaughlin called for a special session of the Legislature to pass a tax relief bill for New York's apple growers.

According to a USDA report released last week, the state's apple production is down 52 percent from last year, yielding the smallest crop since 1948. The report cites erratic weather — an unusually warm spring, followed by late-season freezes and a summer drought — as the primary reason for the $233 million industry's sharp decline.

The "Family Farmers and Apple Growers Relief Act" would establish a tax credit for the 2012 tax year, allowing farmers to claim 35 percent of their crop losses. The Senate Finance Committee estimates it would cost taxpayers $5 million.

The state Senate version of the bill was introduced in June by the chamber's Agriculture chair, Patty Ritchie, a Republican, with 15 sponsors that include Independent Democratic Conference Sen. David Valesky. In the Assembly, the bill's 25 sponsors include three Democrats.

The bill joins a long list of unfinished business from the spring that various groups of lawmakers would like to see addressed in a special session — including minimum wage increases, rent relief and possible increases to their own paychecks.

In a statement, the apple bill's Republican sponsors sought to contrast their bill with that final legislative proposal. "Lawmakers must make the responsible decision to return to Albany for a special session not to vote on a legislative pay raise, but vote to provide tax relief to these farmers who help put food on our tables each night for our families," McLaughlin said.

There are no immediate plans to return to Albany for a special session, and few expect the Legislature to convene before the November elections.